The pope’s red shoes, but not his phone number

Perhaps not content with writing the preface to a children’s book, Pope Benedict XVI’s private secretary, Msgr. Georg Ganswein, is co-author with Christine Schropf of a slim volume, “Why Does the Pope Have Red Shoes?” The original German version – “Warum Tragt der Papst Rote Schuhe” – was released in March. Cantagalli released the Italian version earlier this [...]

Bhutto assassination recalls struggles of church in Pakistan

Today’s assassination of Benazir Bhutto is also an occasion to reflect on the impact of the Catholic Church in Muslim-majority Pakistan. As this story from 2005 notes, “Catholic missionaries have educated some of Pakistan’s most influential politicians,” including Bhutto as well as current Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf.
The 2005 story itself is about a mob attack on a Catholic church compound [...]

Barn Mass celebrated in Indiana

Ever heard of a “barn Mass?” I hadn’t either — and I once worked in Iowa! – until I read about a barn Mass celebrated earlier this month in Kokomo, Ind. One participant told The Catholic Moment in the Diocese of Lafayette, Ind., “It’s humbling to be in a barn and not sitting in a pew [...]

More on coping with grief at Christmas

Dec. 25 has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean Christmas is over. And so, following up on our post about Christmas for the lonely and grieving, here’s another story on holiday coping mechanisms that is worth sharing if you know someone who is grieving this season, courtesy of the Catholic Explorer in the Diocese of [...]

Mary not just for Catholics anymore

During this holy Christmas season, Mary’s role in the Incarnation is a topic central to our Christian faith. Many articles appear this time of year in both the religious and the secular press examining who Mary was and what various faiths have to say about her.
I was reminded of this earlier today when I came [...]

Tony Blair’s low-key conversion, Part 2

Tony Blair’s reception into the Catholic Church this Christmas season also is a reminder of how silly the speculation was that the former British prime minister would announce his conversion at the Al Smith Dinner in New York City when it was held a couple months back. Judging from our story, it certainly seems more logical [...]

Local Santa embraces annual role

Who among you can resist the following headline?
 – “Better be good, Santa Claus is already in town” (from the Arkansas Catholic)

A Christmas Mass for the lonely and grieving

The homily I heard at Mass this morning touched on, among other things, looking out for people who are feeling lonely or sad this Christmas, perhaps because this is the first Christmas without a loved one. It reminded me of this story I read the other day about a special Christmas liturgy “that the lonely [...]

Harry Forbes interviewed on “Golden Compass” controversy

If you have been following the controversy over the review of “The Golden Compass” by the U.S. bishops’ Office for Film and Broadcasting, you’ll likely be interested in reading this story in the Fairfield County Catholic, newspaper of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn. Headlined “Film office under fire for doing its job,” the story interviews [...]

Mary Ann Glendon confirmed by Senate, rumors quashed

Here in Washington, separating fact from rumor is a major challenge for those of us who are news junkies, and that was especially true in this week’s confirmation of Mary Ann Glendon as the new U.S. ambassador to the Vatican.
Glendon, of course, is well-known to those of us in the Catholic press who have been [...]